I recently set up a network with my laptop and desktop using a hub, both machines running win xp and found it to be very straight forward and trouble free. However I done the same for my Father, both on Xp and set up in exactly the same way but I cannot view either machine. I continually get the message 'Mshome is not accessible, you may not have permission to use this source. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available' I am relatively new to networking so any help is greatly appreciated.

make sure file and print sharing is enabled. also, if that doesnt work try actually sharing a drive on both computers. reply if this doesnt work. i have some other ideas. sean

Mshome is the default workgroup on new xp systems, make sure both computers are on the same workgroup. Sounds like one is not.

O.k, both machines have file and printer sharing and are using the same workgroup name. I would like to try partitioning his drives to share but unfortunately I live in a different country from him so this is difficult to set up. Which brings me to something which may be related! I have dialled out of his laptop into my office pc and home pc using pcanywhere with no trouble, however we cannot dial into his laptop or desktop from anywhere. Is this related?